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Psychosocial adaptation status and health-related quality of life among older Chinese adults with visual disorders

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Abstract

Purpose

To examine the association of psychosocial adaptation status with vision-specific health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and the role of psychosocial adaptation in the linkage between visual impairment and vision-specific HRQOL outcomes among older adults with visual disorders.

Design and methods

In this cross-sectional study, older urban adults with visual problems (N = 167) were interviewed using a structured questionnaire to assess their self-reported visual function, general health, psychosocial adaptation status, and vision-specific HRQOL. Performance-based measure of visual function marked by distance visual acuity was clinically conducted by ophthalmologists.

Results

It was found in the study that psychosocial adaptation status was significantly associated with vision-specific HRQOL, including the domains of mental health symptoms due to vision and dependency on others due to vision. The results also showed that psychosocial adaptation status could buffer the effect of visual impairment on vision-specific HRQOL, including the domains of social function, mental health, and dependency.

Conclusion

Psychosocial adaptation status is significantly associated with multiple domains of vision-specific HRQOL. The findings have significant implications for health education and psychosocial intervention for older adults with age-related vision loss.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge and thank Professor Iris Chi and Dr. Chou Kee-Lee for their support and to thank all those who helped to collect the data and those who kindly volunteered to participate in the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre on Behavioral Health, The University of Hong Kong, 10 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China

    Chong-Wen Wang & Cecilia L. W. Chan

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  1. Chong-Wen Wang
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  2. Cecilia L. W. Chan
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Correspondence to Chong-Wen Wang.

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Wang, CW., Chan, C.L.W. Psychosocial adaptation status and health-related quality of life among older Chinese adults with visual disorders. Qual Life Res 18, 841–851 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-009-9505-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-009-9505-z

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